Welcome Rains: October 1-2, 2009

Estimated Rainfall for the 24 hour period ending 7am October 2, 2009Courtesy the National Weather Service

A large, sprawling area of low pressure brought heavy rain to central and southern Minnesota on October 1st and 2nd. Widespread reports of one to two inches were reported. The normal precipitation for the month of October is around two inches for central and southern Minnesota so some central Minnesota locations received a month's worth of October rainfall in just two days. Much of this rain fell over dry ground and areas experiencing drought-like conditions.

The heaviest rain fell over central Minnesota from Belgrade in western Stearns County to western Nicollet County, with another heavier band over Kanebec into Pine County. The highest two day total reported so far is 3.53 inches at Fort Ridgely State Park. 3.50 inches was reported in New London-Spicer. The two day total at Kimball in Stearns County was 3.40. Litchfield saw 3.02 inches. The St. Cloud State University campus weather station had 2.91 inches for October 1 and 2.

The slow moving storm brought persistent easterly winds across northern Minnesota and caused large waves on Lake Superior. Winds were gusting up to 52 miles an hour at the Duluth Sky Harbor Airport on Park Point.